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Newsletter #23

  30/06/2021  

News from the Commission's Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre

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In this issue
 
Foreword
Dear DRMKC subscriber,

Before the summer break, here are the news from the Commission’s ongoing and planned activities on Disaster Risk Management (DRM).

In this issue, you will find a novel section: under the “Read also”, you will find quick links to further interesting readings, beyond the news mentioned above. Among them, there will be a permanent link to the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN) Newsletter, newly established and intended to share information about DRM-related activities beyond the European Commission and beyond the science domain.

Finally, two important messages for you:

  • On 15 June we organized the DRMKC Info Day, during which a selection of the platforms and tools available in DRMKC was shared with invited representatives of Member/Participating States and web streamed in parallel for other interested stakeholders. The video-recording of all presentations is available here
  • Make sure to “save the date” for 20-21 October 2021! The fifth DRMKC Annual Seminar, where we hope to virtually meet as many as possible of you, will launch the collective shaping of the scientific agenda for the upcoming UCP Knowledge Network!


We hope you will enjoy this Newsletter and see you all in the Autumn!

APRIL
New knowledge centre to apply insights from space to EU policy-making

On 20 April the Commission launched the new Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation (KCEO). Here is what’s in it for the Disaster Risk Management community.

 
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Thinking the unthinkable: a perspective on Natech risks and Black Swans

A recently published JRC study examines whether technological accidents caused by natural hazards (Natech accidents) are real “Blacks Swans” (unpredictable and hence unpreventable events), identifies their possible causes and discusses effective strategies to manage extreme risks.

 
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Hospital fires from intense use of oxygen for Covid-19 patients

The tragic hospital fire of 25 April in Iraq was at the time only the last of a series of similar episode about which JRC alerted the international community early on.

 
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New risks: feedback from the IAA PLANETARY DEFENSE CONFERENCE 2021

In the 7th Planetary Defense Conference organized by the International Association of Astronauts, space agencies were discussing how to deflect an asteroid that would hit Earth in October. In the scenario they failed, and it was up to the disaster managers to prepare for impact. The debate that followed was enlightening for both the astronaut and the disaster risk community.

 
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MAY
New space regulation adopted, find out the news about Copernicus portfolio

In April 2021, the Council and European Parliament adopted a regulation establishing the new EU space programme for the years 2021 to 2027. Some novelties are foreseen for the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS).

 
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New “scientific outputs” in the DRMKC website

Check out our new section in DRMKC website dedicated to the “scientific outputs” of the Commission!

 
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Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) - The Mapping Activation Viewer

A new way to share CEMS data: interactive maps to quickly visualise the outcomes of the analysis before, or in alternative to, the download of the ready-to-print maps and vectors.

 
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Integrated techniques for seismic and energy retrofitting of buildings

How to improve the energy/environmental performance of buildings with emerging solutions of lowest environmental impact.

 
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JUNE
The value of “smart” disaster risk management investments in the recently published study “Economics of Prevention and Preparedness”

The report provides analytics to support the EU Member and Participating States by quantifying the fiscal and economic impacts of natural disasters and the costs and benefits of possible prevention measures as well as identifying potential opportunities to increase financial resilience.

 
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GAR Special Report on Drought 2021 calls for global action to increase resilience to droughts

On 17 June 2021, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the GAR Special Report on Drought 2021 was launched. It calls for immediate action to reduce drought risks. Thinking ahead and acting in advance of drought has far lower costs than reacting and responding to the impacts once drought hits.

 
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JRC annual drought report “Droughts in Europe and Worldwide 2019-2020

The first JRC annual drought report “Droughts in Europe and Worldwide 2019-2020" was published on the 17 June 2021. The JRC intends to publish an Annual Drought Report every year in the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

 
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Communication from the Commission on the early lessons from COVID-19 pandemic

On 15 June the European Commission presented a communication in which the past 18 months of Covid19 pandemic are distilled in a list of early lessons on what should be improved and what can be done better in the future at EU and at national level.

 
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INFORM report 2021 now available

This report sets out INFORM’s vision for a suite of products to support decision- making that are easy to use and open to everyone. This vision involves bringing scientific rigour to the process of analysing crises and pooling expertise to develop shared methodologies. By working together,we can reduce the investments required by individual organisations, assure the quality of our analysis and make it available for the common good.

 
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Read also
Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network Newsletter

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Global warming could more than double costs caused by drought in Europe, study finds: release of drought study in Nature

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Speech by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel at the European R&I Days 2021

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Calls and tenders in DRM
Selection of current opportunities
For the agenda
ISES Exposure Symposium​
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Date
date 30/08/2021 - 02/09/2021
5th Summit of the Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Institutes
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Date
date 31/08/2021 - 01/09/2021
EU Week of Cities and Regions
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Date
date 11/10/2021 - 14/10/2021
World Disaster Reduction Day
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Date
date 13/10/2021
5th Annual Scientific Seminar of DRMKC
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Date
date 20/10/2021 - 21/10/2021
CEMS Days: annual meeting of Copernicus EMS
Date
date 25/10/2021 - 29/10/2021
UN Climate Change Conference 2021
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Date
date 31/10/2021 - 12/11/2021
World Tsunami Awareness Day
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Date
date 05/11/2021
European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 2021
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Date
date 24/11/2021 - 26/11/2021